An independent investigation into the murder of journalist Rafiq Tagi and the arrest of the editor-in-chief of Khural newspaper, Avaz Zeynalli has been launched by civil society and media organizations in Azerbaijan.

Lawyer Elchin Sadigov will defend Khural newspaper’s regional correspondent Aydin Janiyev.

On December 6th, at 12 pm, the “Journalist Investigation Group” will hold its launch at the IRFS press center. The group is receiving financial support from the Open Society Institute.

On December 2nd, journalist and cultural correspondent Elshad Umid (Mammadov) of Reyting and Impuls newspapers was physically assaulted by several unknown persons, reported Umid to IRFS today.

Youth blogger and former political candidate Bakhtiyar Hajiyev has been transferred to prison #14, reported Rail Abbasov, the chairman of the defense committee for youth activists’ rights to IRFS today.

Lawyer Elchin Sadigov has sent a letter to the Ombudsperson, Elmira Suleymanova, reporting the violations of protocol that he encountered in Baku Investigative Prison.

On December 4th, Khural newspaper employees began to publish ASI (FSR- Free Speech Revolutionaries), announced Malahat Zeynalli, the wife of imprisoned Khural editor-in-chief Avaz Zeynalli. 

05 DEKABR SAAT 15.00-DA  Reportyorların Azadlıq və Təhlükəsizlik İnstitutunun Mətbuat Mərkəzində 2011-ci ilin avqust ayında Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası Milli Təhlükəsizlik Nazirliyində işgəncə nəticəsində öldürülmüş Turac Zeynalovun həyan yoldaşı Gülnar Zeynalova, bu hadisə və hadisədən sonra Zeynalovlar ailəsinə  olan təzyiqlərlə bağlı  mətbuat konfransı keçirəcək.

On December 2nd, at 12 pm, Magrur Bedelsoy will hold a press conference at IRFS press center, to mark December 3rd—the  International Day of Persons with Disabilities.  

Today, Nasimi District Court denied a motion filed by the imprisoned editor-in-chief of Khural Newspaper, Avaz Zeynalli to replace his pre-trial detention with house arrest. Zeynalli was sentenced to three months of pre-trial detention on October 28th, 2011 by the Nasimi District Court. Judge Etibar Humbatov presided over the hearing.